Weight Loss Clinic in Middletown, DE

Two of Northside Shopping Center's anchor stores have announced opening dates.

Both PetSmart and Hobby Lobby have announced official and unofficial opening dates, respectively, over the next couple of weeks.

The PetSmart next to the Sprouts Market was originally slated for an opening in February or March, but has officially announced its opening date for mid-May.

Here’s what to know.

When will the new stores open?

PetSmart's new store in Middletown, located at 421 Middletown Warwick Drive, is opening on May 17.

The store is located in Northside Shopping Center and spans 18,000 square feet just adjacent to Sprouts Farmers Market and Target. It also will include full-service pet grooming stations, pet day care, boarding, training, a veterinary hospital, and will offer pet adoptions periodically.

The chain is hosting a grand opening on its opening date and is encouraging locals to come with their pets to check out the store and receive some freebies like pet toys, coupons and more.

PetSmart is also offering reward members to earn five times the points on all purchases made in the new store until May 24. Customers can sign up for a membership on the PetSmart website.

According to a PetSmart representative, the store will be open Mondays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. The pet salon will be open Mondays through Saturdays from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Sundays from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m.

This will be the sixth PetSmart store to open in Delaware.

When is Hobby Lobby opening in Middletown?

A representative with Hobby Lobby confirmed to Delaware Online/The News Journal that the Middletown location is "working toward a June 2 opening." No grand opening events or deals have been made public, and the opening date may be subject to change.

The over-50,000-square-foot building will sit next to the new Target and share a parking lot with the Sprouts Farmer’s Market, which celebrated its grand opening on Dec. 6.

This will be Delaware's fourth Hobby Lobby location after the most recent Prices Corner opening in December.

Hobby Lobby is open from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Mondays through Saturdays and is closed Sundays.

The craft store giant offers a wide range of arts and crafts supplies, home décor, seasonal decorations, floral arrangements and more.

(This story has been updated to include the announcement of store hours.)

Molly McVety covers community and environmental issues around Delaware. Contact her at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @mollymcvety.

MIDDLETOWN – A new, but familiar, breakfast spot bringing freshness and a variety of flavors has opened in Middletown. Surf Bagel opened its latest location on Route 299 late last week.

The 4,200 square feet Surf Bagel Middletown has been well received by its new community, according to Surf Bagel President Matt Patton.

“The response from the greater Middletown community has been incredible,” he told the Delaware Business Times. “We are so grateful for the warm welcome that we have received, especially from community members like our first responders, teachers, students and medical professionals.”

New York brothers and avid surfers Dave and Tom Vitella started the business in 2004 and SoDel Concepts acquired it in November 2021 with the intent of adding a more breakfast-focused eateries to the area. At the time, SoDel President Scott Kammerer said there was a chance to open more Surf Bagels in Delaware – and that became a reality a year later with its Milford location.

Since then, SoDel has opened three other Surf Bagel locations, including two closer to the beaches. The Middletown site is the company’s most northern restaurant.

Surf Bagel Middletown offered 35 employment opportunities to the community and Patton says they are still hiring.

“Creating a fun, stable, and welcoming work environment for our employees has always been a top priority and we will continue to build on that culture in Middletown. We are all working hard to earn a reputation as a trusted employer and community partner,” he said.

Patton added that bringing the brand to the growing area of Middletown felt like a perfect opportunity.

“Surf Bagel has been looking for the right opportunity to expand into New Castle County for a while. When we got the opportunity to open in Middletown, we knew it would be perfect,” he told DBT. “The community has really grown over the last few years and is home to an awesome school district and countless great businesses – we just knew it was the right fit for our first location in New Castle County.”

Although the company doesn’t have any specific plans for expansion beyond Middletown at this time, Patton said they are exploring more options in Delaware’s most northern county.

If you thought the Amazon fulfillment center in Middletown is big, wait until you see what they have planned next, just a few miles away.

Middletown Mayor Ken Branner said the town has approved a 3.2-million-square-foot Amazon center on about 135 acres near Middle Neck and Warwick roads. It’s near the Route 301 interchange, the Puglisi Egg Farms property and the Maryland line.

That’s about three times the size of the Amazon center in Middletown, which is just over 1 million square feet, built in 2012 on Merrimac Avenue.

Amazon officials released only basic details.

“I can confirm that we've purchased property in Middletown with the intent of opening an operations facility in the future,” said Amazon spokesperson Rao Smith.

In December, the Middletown Planning and Zoning Commission approved a preliminary major land development plan for “301 Business Park North” at 1963, 1985 and 1999 Middle Neck Road.

Middletown Mayor and Council approved the preliminary plan and the record plan presented by Richard Forsten, attorney representing the owner, 301 Logistics LLC, and Brian Conlon with Langan Engineers in January.

According to New Castle County property records, Amazon.com Services LLC of Seattle bought property from NZ-301 Logistics LLC of Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, and the deed was recorded April 22, 2025. There’s a “sale amount” in the records, but it’s listed as $10. Delaware Business Times reported the price at $87.5 million, but neither Smith nor Branner would confirm that.

“This process is in the early planning stages and additional steps remain,” Smith said. “We'll share more when we can.”

The company shared more with Branner and other town leaders during an April 15 tour of the company’s Boxwood Road facility near Newport to show what the new Middletown facility will be like.

Branner said the plans are for a similar facility, with five floors, each 20 feet high for a total height of 100 feet, but with smaller total square footage than the 3.8-million-square-foot Boxwood center.

During the tour, he was “amazed and impressed” at all the robots buzzing around, moving packages.

“There were robots everywhere, but they never run into each other. They were about 3 feet high and they just run down the lines of shelves,” Branner said.

They saw a robot stop near them and plug itself into a charger.

“Then when it was done charging, it went out to the edge of the aisle until a computer told it what to do next,” Branner said.

The day of the tour, the Boxwood facility shipped about 1 million packages.

“They said Boxwood Road is usually in the top five distribution centers in the country,” Branner said. “Boxwood was number one that day.”

While the center uses lots of robots, Branner said every truck is packed by employees.

“They were loading 14 trailers at a time and they hand pack them to fill all the empty spaces,” Branner said.

As far as an estimated number of jobs this new Middletown warehouse could create, Amazon would not comment.

Branner said, “We’re thinking 1,000 to 1,200, because even though it’s larger than the current [Middletown] center, it will be more efficient with the latest technology.”

That’s about the same number that work in at the Middletown Amazon, with more temporary jobs added during the holiday shopping rush.

The company spokesperson would not comment on when construction would begin or an estimated opening date for the new fulfillment center.

Branner said since the town has approved a preliminary site plan and sediment control plan, Amazon could start site work anytime.

He said the new facility should benefit the town like the current fulfillment center.

“It’s provided jobs, and the opportunity for higher-paying jobs, and tax dollars for the town,” Branner said.

The presence of Amazon has helped attract other companies to Middletown, and there’s the ripple effect on the local economy with Amazon employees patronizing local businesses, he said. The company has also made donations in the community.

“They’ve been great partners,” Branner said.

Reporter Ben Mace covers real estate, development and business stories. Reach him at [email protected].

TREVOSE, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Comcast announced that its reliable, high-speed, symmetrical Internet is now available to more homes and businesses in Middletown, DE, including Middletown Apartments and the Brickmill Farm neighborhood, as part of a network expansion that will ultimately reach 13,000 additional homes and businesses. The expansion brings Internet, mobile, entertainment, and security services from Xfinity and Comcast Business to residents and businesses for the first time.

"We are thrilled to welcome Comcast to the Town of Middletown as they bring their powerful network and mobile and technology solutions to our community,” said Kenny Branner, Mayor of Middletown, DE. “This investment in our infrastructure is a major step in ensuring that every resident and business has access to reliable, high-speed Internet. This expansion is not only about better connectivity but also about building a stronger, more sustainable future."

“My wife and I made the switch to Xfinity and are pleased with our decision,” said David Lashey, a Middletown resident. “We’re happy with the savings, with the customer service and the fast speeds – great for watching my Ohio State Buckeyes.”

Residents can visit Xfinity.com/mytown and enter their addresses for additional details on construction timing and upcoming service availability. They can also stop by local Xfinity Stores in the Christiana Mall in Newark, or in Dover, to learn more about products and services. Comcast’s most recent expansion to Middletown is part of the company’s latest investment in Delaware, which also includes an expansion in Sussex County in partnership with the state of Delaware.

“Our latest investment in Middletown further expands our world-class network into this vibrant community, ensuring that all residents and businesses have access to cutting-edge technology,” said Dan Bonelli, Senior Vice President of Comcast’s Freedom Region. “With our advanced network, we’re proud to support in initiatives that will drive workforce development and digital opportunity for all.”

A Network You Can Trust to be Reliable, Fast and Secure Comcast’s state-of-the-art network is built to enable residents and businesses to thrive in today’s constantly connected world. Middletown joins the 64 million homes and businesses across the country to have access to a network that is trusted by essential community organizations like hospitals, schools, transportation systems and first responders. It delivers gigabit Internet speeds, 99.9 percent reliability and built-in security to help keep customers safe from cyber threats.

Introducing Xfinity for Consumers Comcast’s residential services are marketed under the Xfinity brand, and consumers in Middletown will be able to take advantage of Xfinity’s full suite of products, including Internet, video, mobile, voice and home security. With gigabit Internet speeds, powerful WiFi that reaches every corner of the home, and super-responsive connections with low lag available with its plan, customers have a great experience using their connected devices to stream their favorite sports and entertainment content, video chat with coworkers and friends, learn from home or simply surf the web.

Comcast Business to Power Middletown For local businesses, Comcast Business offers a suite of connectivity, communications, networking, cybersecurity, wireless, and managed solutions to help organizations of all sizes achieve their business goals. Industry analysts and associations have consistently recognized Comcast Business as a leader and innovator in flexible, scalable options as well as one of the fastest-growing providers of Ethernet services.

What It Means for the Middletown Community Comcast’s commitment to communities goes beyond building the network and aims to increase economic mobility for the local community and its residents. That’s why Comcast created Internet Essentials, a broadband adoption program that offers eligible households low-cost, high-speed Internet and affordable computers. Additionally, over the past three years, Comcast has invested more than $1.4 million in cash and in-kind donations into Delaware nonprofits focused on helping people build digital skills, expanding WiFi-connected Lift Zones and funding connectivity and Internet adoption programs.

About Comcast Corporation Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company. From the connectivity and platforms we provide, to the content and experiences we create, our businesses reach hundreds of millions of customers, viewers, and guests worldwide. We deliver world-class broadband, wireless, and video through Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky; produce, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through brands including NBC, Telemundo, Universal, Peacock, and Sky; and bring incredible theme parks and attractions to life through Universal Destinations & Experiences. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information.

MIDDLETOWN — Once again adding to its continuously growing network of distribution warehouses, Amazon plans to build one of its “next generation” warehouses on 130 acres of farmland on the west side of Middletown, according to officials.

Amazon purchased the land near Middle Neck and Warwick roads, a short drive from the U.S. 301 bypass in Middletown on Tuesday. The e-commerce juggernaut bought the parcel for $87.5 million from 301 Logistics LLC, a limited liability company associated with Stoltz Real Estate Partners.

The land was nicknamed “301 Business Park North” and was already approved for a 3.2 million square-foot warehouse back in December. Construction is expected to start soon and will be complete in an 18 month build out, according to town officials.

Amazon regional spokesman Steve Kelly confirmed that the company had bought property in Middletown with “the intent of opening an operations facility in the future.” He added that the process is in the early planning stages and additional steps remain.

Representatives for Stoltz Real Estate Partners declined to comment.

Middletown Mayor Kenny Branner confirmed to the Delaware Business Times that the project would be similar to Amazon’s “next generation” fulfillment center on Boxwood Road in Newport.

Branner and other Middletown officials reportedly took a tour of the Boxwood plant on April 15 as a way to get a glimpse of the future for the west side of the town. The mayor said he was impressed with the computer-driven process inside.

“I didn’t realize it, but every building they do is an upgrade of the previous one. Ours is the newest model,” Branner told DBT. “And last Friday, they [the Boxwood plant] put out a million packages in a day. I was amazed, I really was. It’s going to be great to have this new distribution center.”

The Boxwood plant is five stories and has 40,000 robots working with hundreds of employees to pick and pack products to send all over the region. At the time it opened in 2021, it was one of 26 sites.

“The plant manager told us that [Boxwood] ranks No. 1 in the world in terms of packages going out. Last Friday, they put a million packages in a day through 210 shifts,” the mayor said. “I was amazed, and it’s going to be a big plus for us on the west side.”

Bloomberg recently reported that Amazon was considering a $15 billion warehouse expansion plan that would see 80 new sites in rural parts of the U.S.

Scaling the distribution network may also be Amazon’s key to navigating the trade war, as the same Bloomberg report notes that the company canceled projects in Asia amid the escalating tit-for-tat of tariffs that the U.S. and China have issued in the last month.

But still, Branner is excited about the future and what the latest cutting-edge Amazon facility means for his growing town. He said the site will hire between 700 and 1,000 jobs, ranging from technical support to associates. Like previous big deals with WuXi STA pharmaceutical campus or Datwyler pharmaceuticals, Middletown officials worked with companies to assess whether the market had the workforce within a 45-minute drive to support their needs.

Amazon has heavily invested in the state throughout the years, with the first two Delaware facilities opening in New Castle and Middletown in the early 1990s. The pandemic spurred people to accelerate retail buying online, and Amazon quickly rose to meet the demand.

The e-commerce company went on to open last-mile distribution centers at the Blue Diamond Business Park in New Castle, also built by Stoltz Real Estate Partners, as well as one in Seaford. Amazon recently revealed plans for another last-mile delivery center in Salisbury, Md. That site is 24 miles south of the Seaford site, adding a second Amazon fulfillment center on the Delmarva peninsula and indicating it plans to reach deeper in the rural markets here.

Stoltz Real Estate Partners has also received approval for “301 Business Park South” not far from the future Amazon site. 301 Business Park South is approved for 3.9 million gross square feet in a five-story facility – possibly making it the largest warehouse in the state, beating out Boxwood.

As mayor of Middletown for 36 years, Branner said he views the mega warehouses including Amazon to be a part of the long game to grow the town in a smart way. The area has been growing as more homebuyers have been looking for homes in a highly-rated school district in a community with small-town charm.

He pointed to several forward planning initiatives in the last quarter century that have really driven Middletown’s growth. That includes the comprehensive plan and transportation improvement district that targeted Westown, the area west of Route 71 and focused mainly around Route 301 for growth.

“New Castle County was built south of the canal, and we wanted to be able to control our own destiny. Westown is a big part of filling that commercial and industrial need in the comprehensive plan. There’s no way we could have known it would be Amazon, but certainly we knew it would be something,” Branner said.